Land Acquisition Act to come into force from Jan 1, 2014

The historic Land Acquisition Act, to provide just and fair compensation to farmers, will come into force from January 1, 2014.

The new law received the assent of the President on September 27.

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh took the decision after consideration of another view, particularly from state governments, that the Act replacing a 119-year-old legislation should be notified from April 1, 2014.

"Sooner we notify the Act, lesser the uncertainty," Ramesh said on Tuesday, and announced the decision to implement The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 on New Year day.

Some state governments were of the view that if the law is notified during the beginning of the new financial year, they would get "some time" to establish necessary infrastructure for its implementation.

With the Centre deciding to implement the Act early, state governments will have to soon set up at least six bodies, including the state-level Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority, in each state to hear disputes arising out of projects where land acquisition has been initiated by the state or its agencies.

According to the draft rules released by the Ministry on Monday, the state governments should take immediate steps to create and establish the State Social Impact Assessment Unit, the office of the Commissioner Rehabilitation and Resettlement and the State Level Monitoring Committee.

The bill was brought as the archaic Act of 1894 suffered from various shortcomings, including silence on the issue of resettlement and rehabilitation of those displaced by acquisition of land.